Diving board toy



July 19, 1 955 0. 'L. MILLER DIVING BOARD TOY Filed Aug. 5, 1954 INVENTOR. 056/12 L. M/LL E2.

United States Patent 2,713,230 nrvnvt; BOARD TOY (lscar L. Miller, Valley Station, Ky.

Application August 3, 1954, Serial No. 447,606

3 Claims. 01. 46-42) This invention relates to mechanical toys, and more particularly to a mechanical toy diving board device having high and low diving boards which are simultaneously actuated after a periodof time subsequent to the actuation of the device.

A main object of the invention is to prov des. novel and improved diving board toy device which is simplem construction, which provides a high degree of entertainment to children, and which includes a time delay feature which introduces an element of surprise and mystification to the child operating the device, rendering the device I highly entertaining and amusing.

A further object of the invention is to provide an imnroved toy diving board device which is inexpens ve to manufacture, which is rugged in construction, which is attractive in appearance, and which is easy to operate.

Further objects and advantages of the invention Wlll become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherem:

Figure l is a front elevational view of an improved toy diving board device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross sectional detail view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged cross sectional detail view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is an enlarged elevational detail view taken on the line 65 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, the improved toy device is designated generally at 11 and comprises a hollow base 12 to the top wall of which is secured a vertical hollow standard 13, said standard opening into said hollow base 12, as is clearly shown in Figure 2. Secured on the top portion of the hollow vertical standard 13 and surrounding said top portion is a generally rectangular housing 14, the stand rd 13 being provided with an opening communieating with the lower portion of the housing. Designated at is a rod which is secured to and extends around the upper portion of the standard 13 within the housing 14, said rod being inclined downwardly and passing around the standard to define an inclined ball track in said housing extending around the standard, said track leading downwardly to the opening 15. The rod 16 is secured substantially spirally around the upper portion of the standard 13 within the housing 14, whereby a ball, such as the ball 16' shown in Figure 2, may travel along the rod 16 while engaging the inside surface of the wall of housing 14 with rolling contact, allowing the ball 16' to travel downwardly to the opening 15. The opening 15 is suitably dimensioned to freely allow the ball 16 to pass therethrough, whereby the ball may drop into the hollow vertical standard 13 and thus drop by gravity toward the base 12.

Secured in the upper portion of the housing 14 is a plate 2,713,230 Patented July 19, 1955 member 17, said plate member being located adjacent the upper end of the track rod 16. The housing 14 is formed adjacent the plate member 17 with an aperture 18 sufficiently large to allow the insertion of a ball 16 there through, whereby the ball 16 may be placed on the plate member 17 preparatory to traveling down along the trackway defined by the rod member 16 and the inside wall surface or" housing 14, as above described.

A cover disc 19 is pivotally secured to the housing at 20 adjacent the aperture 18, whereby the cover disc 19 may be employed to close the aperture 18, as shown in full line view in Figure 6, and may be swung away from said aperture in order to allow a ball to be inserted therein.

The wall of housing 14 is fromed adjacent the aperture 18 with a vertical slot 21, and pivotally secured to the housing is a shutter member 22 which may be rotated inwardly to the position thereof shown in Figure 2, wherein said shutter member rests on the plate 17 and defines a barrier, preventing the movement of a ball from the platform plate 17 onto the downwardly inclined track rod 16. The shutter member 22 has an outwardly projecting portion formed with a notch 23, allowing the shutter member to be manually engaged, whereby the shutter member may be swung outwardly from the full line position of Figure 2 to the dotted line position shown in said figure, thus releasing a ball on the plate 17, and allowing the ball to travel downwardly along the ball track 16.

As shown in Figure 6, the shutter member 22 is pivotally connected to the housing by a transverse pin 24 engaged through the lower outer portion of the shutter memher and through pivot lugs 25 between which the lower portion of the shutter member is received, as is shown in Figure 6.

Designated at 27 is a high diving board which is pivotally connected at 28 to the top portion of the housing 14, said board 27 having its inner portion pivotally connected to the top end of a vertical rod 29 which is slidably positioned within the hollow standard 13 adjacent the front wall 3% of said standard.

As shown in Figure 5, the board 27 extends between a horizontal top plate 32 supported on the top wall of housing 14- over the top end of standard 13, and a rectangular notch 33 formed in the front wall of the housing 14. The board member 27 has depending lugs 34, 34 received between depending lugs 35 on the member 32, and pivotally secured thereto by a transverse pivot pin 36 extending through the lugs, as shown in Figure 5.

Transvcrsely secured to the lower portion of the bar member 29 is the guide bar 37 which limits swinging movement of the bar 29 and thus guides the bar for vertical movement. A transverse guide pin 38 extends through the lower portion of the standard 13, whereby the bar member 22 is retained between the pin 38 and the wall 3%), and is thus guided for vertical movement adjacent the wall 38.

Designated at 39 is a lower driving board which is pivotally secured at 40 to the top wall of the base 12 beneath the upper diving board 27, the under side of the lower diving board 39 being engageable by an upwardly projecting flange 41 on the end of a lever member 42. The lever member 42 is pivotally connected at its intermediate portion to the lower end of the bar member 29, whereby the lever member 42 is freely rotatable in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2, around its pivotal connection with the bar member 29. As will be readily apparent from Figure 2, when a ball 16 drops through the standard 13, the ball engages the inner end portion of the lever 42, causing the lever to be rotated counterclockwise, as viewed in Figure 2, whereby the flange 41 pushes the lower diving board 3? upwardly, the bar member 29 being simultaneously pulled downwardly, whereby the upper diving board 27 is rotated counterclockwise, as viewed in 7 with a vertical slot 43 adapted to receive a miniature life preserver 44, the lower portion of the slot 43 being provided witha channel member 45 secured thereto and ,extending outwardly therefrom, whereby the miniature life preserver 44 may be normally supported on the bottom wall of the channel element 45, as shown in Figure 2. V The intermediate portion of the bar member 29 is formed with the oval element 46 through which the miniature life preserver may project, as shown in Figure 2, whereby saidminiature life preserver will be partially in the path of a falling ball 16'. When a ball 16 falls through the standard 13, the ball engages the life preserver 44 and projects said life preserver outwardly from the slot 43, whereby the life preserver is projected outwardly irom the device'immediately prior to the simultaneous elevation of the top diving board 27 and the lower diving board 39, as above described.

A plurality of pins 48 are provided on 'the standard 13 below the slot 43 for receiving additional miniature'life preservers 44. Designated at 49 is a toy ladder which'has a curved top end 50 secured rigidly 32, the bottom ends of the side legs of the ladder 49 being slidably engaged in suitable apertures provided therefor in the top wall of the base 12.

In operation, a ball 16' is inserted through the aperture 18 onto the plate 17. The shutter member 22 may then be retracted, releasing the ball, and allowing the ball to to the plate member travel downwardly along the track element 16, whereupon the ball enters the upper portion of the standard 13 through the aperture 15 and drops downwardly there through. As the ball drops downwardly it projects the miniature life preserver 44 outwardly, and then strikes the innertportion of the lever member 42, causing the bar member 29 to be drawn downwardly and simultaneously causing the flange 41 on the outer end of the lever 42 to elevate the lower diving board 39. The downward movement of the bar member 29 causes the upper diving board 27 to be elevated simultaneously with the lower diving board 39. i It will be understood that suitable miniature divers will be positioned on the diving boards 39 and 27, and that said miniature divers will be projected from the device shortly after theprojection therefrom of the miniature life preserver 44. This action occurs a short and predetermined time after the ball 16 has been released by the outward movement of the shutter member 22. This short but definite time period is the time required for the ball 16' to travel downwardly around the standard 13 g 'on the track member 16. This time delay creates an elepivotally connected at its inner end to the top end of said bar member, a second toy diving board pivotally mounted on said hollow base, and a lever member pivotally secured at its intermediate portion to the lower end of said bar member, one end of the lever member engaging beneath said second toy diving board and the other end 7 of the lever member being disposed beneath the hollow standard to receive a ball dropping from said ball track through the standard, whereby to simultaneously elevate said toy diving boards.

2. A toy 'device comprising a hollow base, a vertical hollow standard secured on and communicating with said base, a housing surrounding theupper portion or said standard, said standard havingan opening communicating with the lower portion of said housing, an inclined ball track in said housing extending around the standard,

said track leading downwardly to said opening, the wall of said housing having a ball admission aperture located adjacent the top end of said ball track, a retractable shutter member slidably mounted in the wall of the housing between said ball admission aperture and said ball track, a vertical bar member slidably mounted in said standard, a first toy diving board pivotally mounted on the top portion of said housing and pivotally connected at its inner end to the top end of said vertical bar member, a second toy diving board pivotally mounted on said hollow base, and a lever member'pivotally secured at its intermediate portion to the lower end of said vertical bar member, one end of the lever member engaging beneath said second,

toy diving board and the other end of the lever member being disposed beneath the hollow standard to receive a ball dropping from said ball track through the standard, 7

whereby to simultaneously elevate said toy diving boards.

3. A toy device comprising a hollow base, a vertical hollow standard secured on and communicating with said base, a housing surrounding the upper portion of said standard, said standardhaving an opening communicating with the lower portion of said housing, an inclined ball track in said housing extending around the standard, said track leading downwardly to said opening, the wall of said housing having a ball admission aperture located adjacent the top end of said ball. track, a retractable shutter member slidably mounted in the wall of the housing between said ball admission aperture and said ball track, a vertical bar member slidably mounted in said standard, a first toy diving board pivotally mounted on the top portion of said housing and pivotally connected at its inner end to the top end of said vertical bar memment of suspensewhich is highly entertaining to the child 7 using the device.

1 While a specific embodiment of an improved toy diving board device has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What'is claimed is: I

l. A toy device comprising a hollow base, a vertical hollow standard secured on and communicating with said base, a housing surrounding the upper portion of said standard, said standard having an opening communicating with the lower portion of said housing, an inclined ball track'in said housing extending around the standard,

said track leading downwardly through said opening, the

wall of said housing having a ball admission aperture located adjacent the top end of said ball track, a bar member slidably mounted in said standard, a first diving board pivotally'mounted on the top portion of said housing and her, a second toy diving board pivotally mounted on said hollow base, a lever member pivotally secured at its intermediate portion to the lower end of said vertical bar member, one end of the lever member engaging beneath said second toy diving board and the other end of the lever member being disposed beneath the hollow standard to receive a ball dropping from said ball track through the standard, whereby to simultaneously elevate said toy diving boards, the intermediate portion of said'standard being formed with a slot to receive a miniature life preserver, and means at the lower end of said slot arranged to support a miniature life preserver with a portion thereof disposed in the path of a ball dropping through said standard, whereby the miniature life preserver is projected .outwardly by the ball immediately prior to the simultaneous elevation of said toy diving boards.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Carmichael July 2, 1946 

